Family education in the workplace: A prevention program for working parents and school-age children

Many school-age children from diverse backgrounds take care of themselves before or after school while their parents are away from home. Research on the nature of the self-care situation as well as the characteristics of the children who are most affected has grown considerably. Recent studies conclude that understanding and addressing the unique aspects of each self-care situation is more important than debating whether or not self-care, as a distinct entity, has a positive or negative affect on children. This paper describes a new workplace-based prevention program for families with children home alone. Through a series of six workshops, the program helps parents determine if their children are ready to be on their own and, if so, how they can best prepare. Using activities which are based on methods of prevention technology, the program teaches parents and children about family communication, safety in the home and neighborhood, decision-making and substance abuse.